Li Luo gave the Yun guard a hard slap. He had no cultivation to speak of and was knocked directly onto the ground, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. Are you crazy? This is the consort of the Slaughtering King, the second miss of the Yun family! Daring to point at the consort herselfyou must not value your life.

What? Consort of the Slaughtering King Second Miss IIll report it immediately! the guard scrambled within the manor.

When did the Yun manor employ such incompetent guards? Li Luo wondered.

She had secretly come to the Yun manor with Yun Moxiao in the past, but this wasnt a guard she recalled seeing.

Lets enter, Yun Ruoyan said, frowning. As they walked to her cottage, Yun Ruoyan noted that none of the servants around seemed at all familiar to her. As more and more doubts crept into her mind, she heard a familiar voice.

Sister Ruoyan, youre back!

Yun Ruoyan turned around to see Yun Ruoyu heading her way, followed by a few servants she didnt recognize. The guard from before was right by her side, his face a ghostly white.

Sister, when did you return? I didnt receive any news at all! Yun Ruoyu smiled in an endearing fashion, but Yun Ruoyan felt a worsening dissonance. In the past, Yun Ruoyu had been a bossy and domineering child, easily manipulated by Madam An and Yun Ruoyao. Afterwards, with her mothers teachings, she had gradually become more restrained. After the death of Qin Jianmei, she had retreated into seclusion, and Yun Ruoyan had been too busy to worry overmuch about her afterwards.

However, the Yun Ruoyu before her was draped in bright, flowery clothing, with a smile as fetching as the spring wind. If not for the fact that her countenance hadnt changed, Yun Ruoyan didnt think she would be able to recognize her.

Ive just returned, and I was almost barred at the gate. Its been three yearshas something happened within the manor? Why dont I see any of the older servants around?

Sister, three years might not be a long time, but its not a short period, either. The servants youre familiar with have all left the manor, Yun Ruoyu replied. These servants have all been working here for at least two years, and its not quite appropriate to call them newcomers.

Oh? Shouldnt they be considered newcomers if they dont even recognize the young misses of the Yun family? Li Luo stared straight at the guard, who tried to hide behind a few of the other servants. In that case, Third Miss, who exactly do you consider newcomers? Shouldnt the Yun manor, of all places, possess well-trained servants?

Li Luo was unusually incensed by Yun Ruoyans treatment by the front doors of the Yun manor. To be barred outside her own homeYun Ruoyan would be the laughingstock of the capital if word of this incident spread!

Miss Li Luo, Yun Ruoyu began. This is my Yun manor, not your Slaughtering Kings manor. It isnt your place to critique me on familial matters. And even if you marry my elder brother, given your status, youd be nothing more than a concubine.

Li Luo wasnt particularly skilled at wordplay, and she had no retort to Yun Ruoyus words.

And doIhave the qualifications to rebuke you?

Yun Ruoyu hesitated a little. Sister Ruoyan, the servants were indeed impolite to you, but they didnt recognize your appearance, so please dont think too badly of them. Whats more, youve already married out of the Yun family, so please dont worry about Yun family matters.

Yun Ruoyan stepped forward, unwilling to waste her breath bickering with Yun Ruoyu any longer. She pointed at the guard behind Yun Ruoyu. You, get out of this manor. Her voice was infused with spiritual energy, and her shout was enough to cause the servants to cower and tremble. The guard dropped to his knees.

Yun Ruoyu was astounded by the growth in her sisters cultivation in the intervening three years. Sister, its just a servant. Please dont get angry and hurt your child, she quickly added. Then, she turned around to the kneeling guard. Leave the Yun manor immediately.

Finally, she announced loudly to all the servants behind her, This is my second sister, a young miss of the Yun family. When you see her, be polite, or youll be forced to leave the Yun family! She turned back to Yun Ruoyan. Sister, do you feel better now?

Yun Ruoyan nodded coolly. Is Father here? Let me pay my respects to him.

Fathers here, but hes in closed cultivation at present. Sister, Im afraid you wont be able to speak with him today.

Yun Ruoyan relaxed. Paying her respects to Yun Lan was merely a formality, one she was all too happy to neglect.

In that case, let me pay my respects to Grandmother instead.

Of course, Sister. Allow me to accompany you there. Shes been feeling quite unwell lately, and the physician has emphasized her need for rest. Wed best not linger too long.

When Yun Ruoyan stepped into her grandmothers cottage, the Yun matriarch was currently resting in bed. The moment she saw Yun Ruoyan, her eyes widened. She sat up and reached out for Yun Ruoyans hands, her mouth opening but unable to produce any sound.

Whats wrong with Grandmother? Yun Ruoyan asked.

Xiao Lan replied, She had a stroke about a year ago, and shes no longer able to speak.

What? A stroke? Hasnt Grandmother always been in the best of health? After all, her grandmother had once been an eighth-rank cultivator, so even at eighty, she should have been at the peak of health. What could have happened?

We dont know, Xiao Lan replied. She came down with a stroke all of a sudden, and if she hadnt been in such good health, she might not have survived.

All sorts of ails arise with age. Sister, dont be too upset, Yun Ruoyu consoled, then turned to Xiao Lan. Youve been with Grandmother for so long now, and she needs you more than ever. Make sure you take good care of her.

Naturally, Third Miss. Xiao Lan bowed to Yun Ruoyu.

The Yun matriarch had always been kind to Yun Ruoyan, and it hurt her to see her grandmother in such a pitiful state. She wanted to talk to her grandmother some more, but she had already fallen asleep.

Ruoyu, with Father in closed cultivation, Brother out quelling the rebellion, and Grandmother sick, whos in charge of the household? Yun Ruoyan asked, after they had both left their grandmothers cottage.

Sister, Im shouldering that responsibility for the moment.

Yun Ruoyan glanced askance at Yun Ruoyu. Now that she was married, she certainly couldnt take care of the Yun family, and it wouldnt be appropriate for her to jump in unless Yun Ruoyu had made a serious blunder. It felt to her as if her visit to the Yun manor had revealed a number of strange incongruities, but she couldnt precisely identify what they were.

Afterwards, she returned to her own cottage, where Yun Ruoyu finally stopped following her around. Her main goal for returning was to bring her two trusted servants with her. She had returned to the Kongming Academy directly after marrying Li Mo, and her two servants were temporarily retained by the Yun manor.

When she went into her old cottage, however, she found it barren and unkempt, without a single servant tending to the place.

Where are Xi Lan and Peony? In the end, Yun Ruoyan had to find Yun Ruoyu again.

Theyve gotten married, of course. Sister, youve been gone for three years, and your maids have grown into women. Since they had suitors within the manor, I took the initiative to marry them off.

Where are they now? Yun Ruoyan felt as though there had to be more to it than what Yun Ruoyu was revealing to her.

Ive sent for them, Sister. Please wait a little.

Yun Ruoyan didnt have to wait for long before Xi Lan and Peony were led into the cottage, each with a child following behind them.

Miss! When they saw Yun Ruoyan, they hurriedly kowtowed to her.

Rise, rise. Yun Ruoyan helped them up. She glanced at the boy and girl following behind them, each barely more than a year old. Could they be?

Baoer, Qiaoer, quick, kowtow to Miss Yun! Peony quickly helped them into a kneeling position.

Are they

Oh, this boys mine, Peony began. Qiaoers Xi Lans daughter.

You both have children now, and theyre already this large! Yun Ruoyan smiled. I cant believe its only been three years.

Three years isnt a short period of time, Sister. Yun Ruoyao smiled from the side.

Baoer and Qiaoer both seemed to shiver upon seeing Yun Ruoyao smile.

Sister, Id like to speak with my maids privately, please.

Of course. Yun Ruoyu left.

Yun Ruoyan was almost certain that her two maids had suffered unduly while she wasnt present. After Yun Ruoyu left, she asked about this directly, only to have them insist that they were treated well, that Yun Ruoyan didnt have to worry about them.

Ive returned to bring you to the Slaughtering Kings manor, she finally said. Although Ill have to leave again soon, Li Luo will certainly take care of you there.

Miss, if we were still alone, wed surely follow you, Peony began, a conflicted expression on her face. However, both Xi Lan and I have families now, with our own children and husbands. I think its best if we remain in the Yun manor and wait on you whenever you return.

Xi Lan had been standing by the side of the room. She used to be talkative, but now seemed unusually reticent.

Xi Lan, what about you? Yun Ruoyan asked.

Miss, I, I agree with Peony, Xi Lan replied.

When Yun Ruoyan finally returned to the Slaughtering Kings manor, she couldnt shake off the sensation that something had happened within the Yun manor, something to which Yun Ruoyu was directly connected.

When Li Mo left, he assigned two guards to Yun Ruoyan. Now, she instructed those guards to infiltrate the Yun manor to determine what exactly was amiss.